St Peregrine prayer for those with cancer
Asking the patron of cancer patients to intercede for healing, strength, and hope
Morning Prayer editorial team · Updated: November 2026
Saint Peregrine Laziosi (1265–1345), a Servite friar of Forlì in Italy, was healed overnight of a cancerous wound on his leg the night before it was to be amputated, after praying before the crucifix. He is the patron of those with cancer and other serious illnesses. This St Peregrine prayer asks his intercession for the sick and for those who love them.
Let us pray
Saint Peregrine, you know this road. You knew the fear of a diagnosis, the spreading wound, the night before the surgery when everything seemed lost. And you knew where to turn: you dragged yourself to the crucifix and prayed until you slept, and in the morning the wound was gone. Pray now for (name), who is walking the road you walked.
Ask the Lord, who healed you, to heal (name) of cancer and of every serious illness: to shrink what is growing, to strengthen what is failing, to make the treatments effective and the side effects bearable. Guide the oncologists, surgeons, and nurses; give them skill and compassion. Be present at every scan and every result.
Pray for the family and friends who sit in waiting rooms and lie awake at night. Give them the strength to be present, the honesty to cry, and the hope that does not depend on numbers.
You spent your early years as an angry young man who struck a saint in the face; Saint Philip Benizi forgave you and changed your life. Pray that this illness may become, in some way we cannot yet see, a path of conversion and deeper trust for everyone it touches.
Lord Jesus, You are the Divine Physician. Through the prayers of Saint Peregrine, grant healing to the sick, peace to the frightened, and to all of us the faith to believe that whether in this life or the next, You make all things new. Saint Peregrine, pray for us. Amen.
Blessing
May Saint Peregrine, who was healed at the foot of the cross, pray for you and for everyone you love who is facing serious illness.
How to pray this prayer
- Find a quiet moment and breathe slowly.
- Read the prayer aloud or in your heart.
- Add your own intention before the Amen.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Saint Peregrine Laziosi?
Born in Forlì, Italy, in 1265, Peregrine was a hot-headed young man who struck the Servite prior Philip Benizi during a political dispute; Philip's forgiveness converted him. He became a Servite friar known for penance and care of the poor. Healed of cancer in his sixties, he lived to eighty. He was canonized in 1726.
When is Saint Peregrine's feast day?
May 1 in the Roman Martyrology; the Servite Order celebrates him on May 4. Many parishes hold a blessing of the sick and a Saint Peregrine novena around that date.
How do I pray a novena to Saint Peregrine?
Pray this prayer, or a shorter version, for nine consecutive days, ideally with Mass or a visit to a church. Many people also ask for the Anointing of the Sick, which the Church offers to anyone facing serious illness, not only the dying.
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